1.
variety theater, vaudeville hall
A small theater where traditional Japanese performing arts — especially rakugo (comic storytelling), manzai (comedy duos), and other variety acts — are performed. Several historic yose still operate in Tokyo and Osaka.
寄席に落語を聞きに行く。
To go to a vaudeville theater to listen to rakugo.
浅草にはまだ寄席が残っている。
There are still variety theaters remaining in Asakusa.
初めて寄席に行ったが、生の落語は想像していたよりずっと面白かった。
I went to a variety theater for the first time, and live rakugo was much more interesting than I had imagined.
READING:
The kanji 寄席 is a special reading (熟字訓). The characters literally mean "gathering seat" — a place where people gather for entertainment.
CULTURAL CONTEXT:
寄席 have been a fixture of Japanese urban entertainment since the 江戸時代. Famous 寄席 still in operation include 新宿末廣亭, 浅草演芸ホール, and 鈴本演芸場 in Tokyo. Programs typically feature several performers in succession, with 落語 as the main attraction.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 寄席に行く: to go to a variety theater
- 寄席に出る: to perform at a variety theater
- 寄席芸人: variety theater performer